KOTTAYAM — The family of a 27-year-old woman who died during childbirth at the Kottayam Medical College Hospital (MCH) has demanded a high-level inquiry, alleging that medical negligence and a catastrophic delay in treatment led to her demise. Pheba Jose, a resident of Omanappuzha in Alappuzha, passed away early Monday morning following an emergency Caesarean section, leaving her newborn daughter in critical condition on ventilator support.
A formal post-mortem examination was conducted on Tuesday by a specialized three-member panel of doctors at the hospital to determine the exact cause of death. The findings of this autopsy are expected to be pivotal in the ongoing investigation initiated by both hospital authorities and the state health department.
Timeline of the Incident
According to the deceased’s husband, Aneesh, and other relatives, Pheba was admitted to the Kottayam MCH on Sunday after being referred from Alappuzha for a suspected fetal intestinal abnormality. The family alleges that although she experienced severe labor pains by Sunday evening, she did not receive timely medical attention for nearly eight hours. She was later moved to the delivery room, and by early Monday morning, doctors informed the family that an emergency surgery was required, after which they announced she had suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.
Allegations of Professional Lapses
Relatives of the deceased have raised serious questions about communication from the hospital, claiming they were originally told a normal delivery had occurred before later learning of an emergency procedure. They allege that a delay in taking the necessary surgical action, despite her condition, resulted in the tragic death. The family has submitted official complaints to authorities, including the Police and the Hospital Superintendent, calling for an investigation into the staff’s conduct.
